Fried



WINDOW TOP CONTAINERS Original Filed Nov. 8, .1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jn enfoks Louis Fried March 3, 1964 L. FRIED WINDOW TOP CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 8, 1954 m m M 7 e e A n .MF k w u 0 L /W IJ FWJ ire This invention relates generally to the class of receptacles and is directed particularly to a new and novel container or receptacle designed especially for the merchandising of food stuffs or other materials under seal or vacuum.

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 467,601, filed November 8, 1954, now abandoned.

It has come to be generally recognized by manufacturers, advertising agencies and merchants that eye appeal pl ys a great part in the sale of merchandise and in connection particularly with the merchandising of foodstuffs it is known that purchasers, housewives particularly, are attracted to merchandise which can be put up in an appealing manner in transparent containers or receptacles and in this connection use is made extensively of glass containers for this purpose. However, one drawback in the use of glass containers or receptacles is the frangible character of such containers which necessitates careful handling and even then breakage frequently occurs. Even in those cases where the container is not fully destroyed or broken through when roughly handled, it frequently happens that the edges become shipped in some way and frequently timid persons are reluctant to use material in containers where they discover chipped edges so that to this extent the advantages to be had by the use of the transparent container for displaying the contents are olfset by the disadvantages associated with such use.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a new and novel type of container or receptacle wherein the contents of the receptacle can be placed on view and can be arranged to present an attractive appearance, without necessitating the employment for the body of the receptacle of material of a frangible nature so that the receptacle can be readily handled without risk of breakage such as is attendant upon the handling of brittle glass receptacles and also without bringing about conditions which might make consumers timid about using the contents of the receptacle such as occurs, as above pointed out, where chipped conditions are sometimes found to exist in glassware containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container or receptacle designed primarily for the merchandising of food stuffs, having a wall of transparent, non-brittle material designed to permit a viewing of the contents of the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle having a transparent wall of the above stated character which is of a nature to be readily cut or opened by the use of a knife or other suitable sharp implement to facilitate the removal of the contents without having to employ conventional can openers.

Still a nother object of the invention is to provide a hermetically sealed receptacle having a wall comprised of a rim portion of substantially rigid or hard material such as metal or the like, and an inner portion of a transparent non-metallic and non-brittle material through which the contents of the receptacle may be seen and which may be cut by a suitable implement to facilitate removal of the contents of the receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a hermetically sealed receptacle designed for the purpose stated having a wall comprised of a rim portion and a central transparent resilient portion of non-metallic material wherein said central portion is in the form of a sheet rates Patent "ice or disc covering the inner surface of the rim portion and sealed thereto.

As is well known it is the practice to sterilize the contents of sealed receptacles carrying food or similar materials where sterilization is essential, by subjecting the receptacle to the required heat after the receptacle has been closed and sealed.

This procedure, of course, sets up an internal pressure due to the expansion of the air within the receptacle and if a wall of the receptacle is yielda'ole such pressure will cause outward bulging of such wall.

in the light of the foregoing it is accordingly a further object of the present invention to provide a means whereby, in the operation of sterilizing the contents of a receptacle constructed in accordance with the present invention, the transparent wall of the receptacle is reinforced upon the outer side or firmly held against outward bulging or expansion while the sterilization process is being carrie out so as to prevent rupture of such wall and also to assure the maintenance by the transparent wall of a desired shape or fiat character thereof over the contents of the receptacle.

The accomplishment of the foregoing objects is attained by the provision of a receptacle body preferably the conventional tin plated body, or a body of other suitable metal or other suitable rigid material and having one side open and initially formed with an outstanding flange. The inner surface of the receptacle may be coated, particularly where the receptacle body is of metal, with a protective lacquer such as is conventionally used for this purpose in the making of so-called keg lined containers or receptacles. The wall of the container having the transparent window therein comprises a rim portion of substantially rigid or hard material such as metal or the like and an inner portion of a transparent non-metallic and non-brittle material preferably a plastic such as that known as Saran and the inner surface of the said rim portion is likewise coated preferably with a protective lacquer such as that applied to the innner surfaces of the other walls of the container.

The inner surface of the Saran window may have applied thereover a coating of vinyl resin if desired though such coating is not essential.

The rim portion of the wall structure, which is in the form of an annulus, has its inner edge formed or shaped in a novel manner to prevent such inner edge abrading or damaging the transparent window-forming material.

The window material extends throughout the inner surface of the rim portion and the outer part of such rim portion is bent around the flange of the receptacle to which the transparent wall is applied, in the conventional manner to form a sealing bead, the adjacent forward faces of the flange and the peripheral portion of said rim portion being provided on the opposing surfaces with a suitable composition whereby a hermetical seal is obtained.

For facilitating the sterilization of the contents of the receptacle after the wall having the transparent window has been applied, there is provided a clamping device comprising top and bottom plates between which the receptacle is secured during the sterilizing operation, which clamping device may be designed to secure a multiplicity of receptacles for simultaneous sterilization. in such clamping device one plate which is designed to position over and against the walls of the receptacles having the.

transparent windows, is provided with inwardly extending areas designed to conform to the contours of the windowed Walls so as to position close to or against the transparent material of the wall to maintain such material against bulging.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification with the understanding that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified within the scope of the appended claims.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of a receptacle of circular form constructed in accordance with the present invention showing portions of the elements making up the windowed wall broken away to show details of construction.

FIG. 2 is a view partly in transverse section and partly in side elevation of a filled and closed receptacle constructed in accordance with the present invention.

18. 3 is a sectional detail on an enlarged scale taken transversely of the rim portion of the windowed wall at one side thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view in top plan of a clamping device for holding a multiplicity of circular receptacles while the latter are being sterilized.

KG. 5 is a partial section on an enlarged scale talte substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the inner face of the top plate of the clamp.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the inner face of the bottom plate of the clamp.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken transversely of one of the areas of the top plate which is formed to fit in the rim portion and across the transparent area of the windowed wall of the receptacle when the latter is secured in the clamp between the top and bottom plates, the engaged windowed wall portion of the receptacle being shown in dotted outline.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the numeral it} generally designates a receptacle of circular or cylindrical form constructed in accordance with the present invention.

While the illustration of the receptacle shows the same as being of circular form and of low height such as is commonly employed for retailing single bodies such as small hams, whole chickens and the like, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to receptacles of circular form as it is equally applicable to receptacles of elliptical character or of square or any other geometrical outline.

The numeral 12 designates the side wall of the receptacle while the bottom wall is designated 14 and the windowed top wall is generally designated 16.

Where the receptacle body is formed of metal such,

for example, as the conventionally used tin plated metal or the like as is customary the bottom wall 14 and side wall l2; may be joined by the usual or conventional rolled bead 18 which forms a liquid and air tight connection between the parts.

In the initial formation of the body of the receptacle to which the windowed wall 15 is to be applied, the wall 12 is provided with the outstanding encircling flange 2t) which in the present construction may be made slightly wider than would be the case in a conventional can construction to permit the desired folding or rolling of the flange with the applied wall flange because of the inclusion between the flanges of materials not ordinarily found between such flanges in conventional can structures.

The windowed wall 16 comprises two main parts which may be identified as the rim portion a and the transparent central portion b.

The rim portion a of the wall 16 is here illustrated as bein circular or in the form of an annulus to conform to the circular form of the top of the receptacle but where the receptacle may be oval or elliptical or square such a rim portion would be of the same contour as will be readily appreciated.

The rim portion a is relatively narrow from the inner to the outer edge thereof as shown although the width of the rim portion vary as desired in accordance with the size of the transparent window desired for use. Such rim between the inner and outer edges comprises a flat mid portion 21 which is bordered on the inner side by an upstanding bead generally designated 22 which is formed by folding under the inner edge of the portion 21 as illustrated in FIG. 3 to produce the upwardly and inwardly inclined shoulder x, the inner vertical or strai ht wall portion y and the reversely bent outwardly directed flange z which lies approximately in the plane of the flat portion 21 of the rim structure.

The rim portion is initially formed with the relatively wide and substantially flat surrounding flange 23 which is joined to the mid portion 21 by the low connecting wall as and which is bordered at its outer side by the downwardly and inwardly curved lip 25. The width of this flange 23 is sufficient to receive the can wall flange 2% between the low wall 24 and the lip 25.

The inner surface of the entire rim portion of the windowed wall may have applied thereover a coating 26 of the usual shellac material employed for this purpose and the inner surfaces of the walls 12 and 14 may also be provided with similar coatings as indicated at 27 if desired although such coatings may be dispensed with unless the character of the contents of the receptacle is such as to requi e it.

The inner side of the flange 23 has applied thereto,

or to the coating material 26 lying thereover, if such material is present, a coating or layer 28 of a suitable sealing material or cement of suitable character for the pur- V pose hereinafter set forth.

The inner portion or panel I; of the Windowed Wall comprises a sheet 29 of earan plastic which is of a' diameter, where the windowed wall is or" circular form as illustrated, substantially equal to the diameter of the rim portion :2 against the inner or under side of which such panel positions.

The synthetic resin Saran of which the central or window portion of the wall 16 is formed is well known and occurs in a variety of forms having various physical characteristics, one form of which resin is employed eX- tensively as a protective packaging material, being of a tough flexible character, completely waterproof and highly resistant to solvents, oils, greases, acids and alkalis and in addition is odorless, tasteless and non toxic.

However, if additional protection is desired for the transparent panel 29 the inner surface thereof may have applied thereto a coating 39 of vinyl resin.

The inner surface of the panel 29 has applied thereto adjacent to the edge or periphery thereof, or applied to the coating 3i? where such is employed, a band or layer of suitable adhesive or cement 31.

The panel 29 is positioned against the inner side of the rim a, lying against and across the inner surface of the portion 21 and against the inner side of the flange z, of the head 22 and extends across and is pressed into the flange 23 against the layer 28 of the usual sealing con pound or adhesive material. In other words in as sembling the parts a and b the marginal portion of the panel 29 is pressed into the channel formed by the flange 23, the wall 24 and the lip 25 so as to be tightly secured thereto by the adhesive material 28. The initial Width or diameter of the panel 29 must, accordingly, be sulficient to substantially cover the entire interior surface of such channel. In addition to the employment of pressure the bond between the peripheral portion of the panel 29 and the channeled portion of the rim may be effected by the application of heat, or in any other suitable manner.

While the sealing compound 28 has been illustrated in FIG. 1 as applied to the underside of the flange 23 in the channel formed between the wall 24 and the lip 25, obviously such compound could he applied to the opposing marg nal portion of the transparent Wall panel 29 and the latter then applied to the underside of the rim and bonded thereto as described.

After assembling the parts to form the completed wall 16 the resultant structure is such that a multiplicity of the articles can be readily assembled in stacked relation or can be stacked conveniently in the hoppers of conventional top applying machines to be fed and applied to the tops of the receptacle bodies and secured or seamed to the bodies by the conventional beading or seaming machines, without requiring any alteration in the form or construction either of the hoppers or of the beading machines.

ter the top has been applied to the body of the receptacle the layer 31 of the sealing compound, previously applied to the marginal portion of the underside of the disc 29, will engage the top surface of the flange 2i and, when the channeled flange portion 23 and flange Zil have been bent and locked together the layers 28 and 31 of the sealing compound form a hermetic seal between the bead parts.

FIG. 3 illustrates on an enlarged scale a completely formed head which is generally designated B and illustrates how the sealing compound may be distributed in some instances between the folded parts or members. In this illustration, the free edges of the body flange 29 and the free edges of the parts of the Windowed wall are shown as forming shallow pockets P, with opposing or adjacent parts, into which the sealing compound is forced when the fianges are pressed together. In other instances, however, where the interlocked can body flange and free edges of the windowed Wall are more completely interlocked, the recesses or pockets may not be present but there would be a sufiicient coating between the opposing surfaces to form or effect the desired hermetic seal.

In FIG. 2 a finished receptacle is illustrated with the portion of the wall broken away to show a body of food F, or other material therein. In this figure and in FIG. 3 the panel 29 of transparent plastic is shown lying flat against the underside of the inner portion of the rim contacting the parts 21 and z. In some instances the application of the windowed Wall to the body might produce pressure against the underside of the transparent panel 29 which would cause the latter to bulge upwardly slightly but any possibility of rupturing or cutting the plastic wall against the inner edge of the rim is avoided by reason of the beaded formation of such rim portion as indicated at 22.

In addition to the foregoing the provision upon the inner side of this bead 22 of the substantially straight inwardly facing wall y provides a guide against which a cutting lade may be located for the removal of the transparent central part b of the Windowed wall structure.

In the packaging of foodstuffs in a windowed container of the character herein disclosed it is necessary that the container and contents be subjected to elevated temperatures to effect pasteurization of the contents. For example in connection with the packaging of meats or other foodstuffs of high acid content the receptacle and contents must be subjected to a temperature of at least 245 F. and in connection with the packaging of vegetables which are more alkaline and less acid than meats, a temperature of from 180 F. to 195 F. is required. The application of such temperatures, of course, expands the air and iluids within the receptacle which would bulge the plastic panel 29 to an extent which might cause rupture thereof and accordingly a means is provided in the form of a clamp structure such as that illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 8 for holding the receptacle while the pasteurization process is carried out so as to prevent such rupture of the transparent wall.

A preferred form for the receptacle clamp is, as illustrated in FIG. 4 of circular character and designed to carry a multiplicity of receptacles.

The so-called steam pressure cooker kettle employed in packing plants is of circular character and accordingly by providing the can or receptacle clamping structure in circular form as illustrated a number of the structures can be stacked in the steam kettles. Such commercial pressure cookers are of large capacity, being designed to hold from five hundred to six hundred receptacles in the form of the conventional cans used for merchandising meats and vegetables and accordingly it is preferred that the circular clamping structure be designed to hold approximately fifty cans and to be stacked ten deep in the pressure cooker.

While the clamp form and capacity are as above outlined it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to a clamp of this specific form to the specific capacity stated.

The receptacle clamp illustrated is generally designated 5% and comprises a top or head plate 51 and a bottom or base plate 52.

The base plate 52 has secured therein adjacent to the periphery thereof a number of tie bolts 53 which extend upwardly and are adapted to pass through apertures 54 in the head plate and to receive on their upper ends securing nuts 55 to hold the plates in clamping relation with interposed receptacles it in the manner illustrated.

The base plate 52 is provided in its top surface with a multiplicity of recesses or sockets 56 of suitable form or contour to receive the receptacles it and the head plate has formed in its under face a corresponding number of press areas or islands 57 each of which is of the proper configuration to fit in the area of the Windowed wall defined by the bead 22 as illustrated in PEG. 8. Each of these island areas 57 is defined by the channel 53 which receives the bead portion B of the receptacle and a shallow recess 5& which is located between the channel 58 and the central island portion 57 as shown in which the bead portion 22 of the receptacle Wall is located.

As will be readily apparent upon reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings when each of the recesses or pockets 56 has a receptacle or container placed therein the head plate 51 is then placed in position where when the apertures 54 are located to receive the upper ends of the bolts 53 the plastic wall retaining islands 57 will be located in proper position above or upon the inner part of the windowed wall and the clamp plates may then be firmly secured together by the application of the nuts 55 to the bolts 53 as illustrated.

In order to facilitate the handling of the clamp structure with the receptacles therein, the top or head plate 51 is provided with a suitable bail type handle 69 pivotally secured in a suitable pocket 61 in the top of the head plate 51 as illustrated so that it may be swung down to a position below or flush with the top surface of the plate but readily raised to a proper position to facilitate lifting the unit.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided by the present invention a new and novel type of windowed wall receptacle or container which can be hermetically sealed to positively preserve the contents and at the same time provide for visual inspection thereof.

I claim:

1. A container structure comprising a body having a ide wall, a top wall joined to the side wall, said top wall comprising a bordering rim portion having seamed attachment around its perimeter to the side wall and having a continuous bead having an inner side disposed inwardly of the end of said side wall, and a sheet of transparent plastic covering the inner side of said rim portion over substantially the entire area defined by said rim portion and with the marginal outer edge portion of the transparent sheet being sealed around its outside in the seamed attachment between the outside of the rim portion and said side wall, and said bead reinforcing the said rim thus serving to rigidity the said seam and the inner side of the bead being formed to provide a protective means for the plastic sheet extending thereacross, said rim portion including a fiat portion lying between the seamed attachment and the inner edge head, said bead comp: sing a folded under section of said flat portion and having an upwardly and inwardly inclined continuation of the flat portion merging with a low straight vertical wall part which joins a narrow substantially right angled outward 1y extending terminal edge part directed toward said fiat portion.

2. A receptacle compris a body having a continuous side wall, a top wall carried by the side wall, said top Wall embodying a perimetrical portion formed to provide a relatively large window opening with respect to said top wall and also having an outer flange for seamed coupling with an edge flange of the side wall and further having a relatively wide fiat part between the flange and window and lying in a plane perpendicular to said side wall, the top wall further comprising a transparent plastic sheet covering said window opening on the u der side of the said perimetrical portion, means sealing the plastic sheet to said latter portion around the window opening, said outer flange being folded under with said side wall edge flange to form a sealing seam therewith, and a sealing compound compressed between opposing surfaces of the folded flanges to form a hermetic seal, said window opening being defined by a bead formed as a folded continuation of a part of said wide part of the perimetrical portion, the last stated bead rising above said wide part, but terminating short of the top end or" the top wall, the part from which the bead is a continuation also having a fiat bottom paralleling the last named part and forming a fiat surface with the last named part against which the plastic sheet lies.

3. in combination a receptacle having a Wall provided with a frangible transparent window and means for preventing rupture of said window from internal pressure in the receptacle comprising a pair of clamp plates between which the receptacle is located, means for drawing the plates together in clamping relation, and means carried by one plate and formed for positioning in close proximity to the receptacle wall window to oppose outward bulging of the window, said last means comprising 8 an island area substantially conforming to the contour and dimensions of the window and encircled by a recess adapted to receive portions of the receptacle which surround and project beyond the plane of the window.

4. A receptacle comprising a body having a side wall, and a closure wall upon one end or" the side wall, said closure wall embodying a substantially rigid perimetrical portion hermetically sealed to the end of the body and permanently earned thereto, a portion integral with said first mentioned portion carried by and disposed over and within the area circumscribed by said perimetical portion and inwardly of the end of the side wall to which said one of said closures is attached, and the said portion within the perimetrical portion being characterized in that it may be readily totally or partially removed by a cutting means from the said perimetrical portion to thereby permit contents of the receptacle to be removed therefrom, said perimetrical portion having an inside rigiditying bead formed in part by a downwardly and outwardly directed part thereot and said outwardly directed part having an inwardly facing fiat surface over and against which the second mentioned portion lies.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 711,204 Gay Oct. 14, 1902 1,125,040 Beadle Ian. 19, 1915 1,732,589 Plumrner Oct. 22, 1929 1,765,383 Punte June 24, 1930 1,921,016 Young Aug. 8,1 33 2,178,618 Taylor Nov. 7, 1939 2,362,845 OLrien Nov. 14, 1944 2,412,528 Morrell Dec. 10, 1946 2,616,568 Eundgus Nov. 4, 1952 FORE-KEN PATENTS 298,786 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1928 789,556 France Aug. 19, 1935 476,958 Italy Ian. 7, 1953 

4. A RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A SIDE WALL, AND A CLOSURE WALL UPON ONE END OF THE SIDE WALL, SAID CLOSURE WALL EMBODYING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID PERIMETRICAL PORTION HERMETICALLY SEALED TO THE END OF THE BODY AND PERMANENTLY SEAMED THERETO, A PORTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONED PORTION CARRIED BY AND DISPOSED OVER AND WITHIN THE AREA CIRCUMSCRIBED BY SAID PERIMETICAL PORTION AND INWARDLY OF THE END OF THE SIDE WALL TO WHICH SAID ONE OF SAID CLOSURES IS ATTACHED, AND THE SAID PORTION WITHIN THE PERIMETRICAL PORTION BEING CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT MAY BE READILY TOTALLY OR PARTIALLY REMOVED BY A CUTTING MEANS FROM THE SAID PERIMETRICAL PORTION TO THEREBY PERMIT CONTENTS OF THE RECEPTACLE TO BE REMOVED THEREFROM, SAID PERIMETRICAL PORTION HAVING AN INSIDE RIGIDIFYING BEAD FORMED IN PART BY A DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY DIRECTED PART THEREOF AND SAID OUTWARDLY DIRECTED PART HAVING AN INWARDLY FACING FLAT SURFACE OVER AND AGAINST WHICH THE SECOND MENTIONED PORTION LIES. 